Picea pungens tree named ‘INMoHoop’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Picea pungens  tree having an orthotropic leader growth, a dwarf and wide conical shape, a compact habit, blue-colored needles/foliage, and long and thin needles, as disclosed.

Genus and species: Picea pungens.

Denomination: ‘INMoHoop’.

BACKGROUND

‘INMoHoop’ is a new and distinct variety of Picea pungens. ‘INMoHoop’ originated from a controlled cross conducted in May 2001 in a greenhouse in Boring, Oreg. of the female Picea pungens parent ‘Montgomery’(unpatented) and the female Picea pungens parent ‘Hoopsi’ (unpatented). The seeds from this cross germinated in May 2002.

‘INMOHOOP’ was selected and first asexually propagated in January 2009 in Boring, Oreg. via grafting onto Picea abies rootstock (unpatented).

‘INMoHoop’ reproduces true to type in successive generations since 2009 of asexual reproduction via grafting onto Picea abies rootstock (unpatented).

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Boring, Oreg.

-   -   1. Orthotropic leader growth;     -   2. Dwarf and wide conical shape;     -   3. Compact habit;     -   4. Blue-colored needles/foliage; and     -   5. Long and thin needles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Picea pungens tree is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form and foliage. The photographs are of a 10-year-old tree grown outdoors in Boring, Oreg. and were taken in June 2022 under cloudy conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall form of the whole tree of ‘INMoHoop’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the buds and needles or leaves of the tree of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the terminal branch shoot of the tree of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set for the distinctive characteristics of ‘INMoHoop’. The data which define these characteristics were collected outdoors in Boring, Oreg. in June 2022 on 10-year-old trees in Boring, Oreg. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Pinaceae.         -   Botanical.—Picea pungens.         -   Denomination.—‘INMoHoop’. -   Tree:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen conifer.         -   Shape.—Wide conical.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Dwarf compact tree, single             flush.         -   Propagation type.—Grafting onto Picea abies rootstock             (unpatented).         -   Height (from soil line).—150 cm at 10 years.         -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—120 cm at 10 years.         -   Length of terminal 1-year shoots.—20.0 cm to 30.0 cm.         -   Length of subterminal 1-year shoots.—10.0 cm to 15.0 cm.         -   Diameter of trunk.—10.0 cm at 10 years at a height of 30.0             cm on the trunk.         -   Temperature tolerance or zones.—USDA Zones 2 to 8.         -   Trunk surface texture.—Surface has irregular, small, and             rough scaly plates.         -   Trunk color.—RHS N199D (Greyed-Brown) and RHS N167D             (Greyed-Orange).         -   Lateral branch color for 1-year-old shoot.—RHS 166D             (Greyed-Orange). -   Leaves (needles):     -   -   Arrangement.—Radial, single.         -   Quantity of leaves/needles per terminal one-year branch             shoot.—450 to 475.         -   Quantity of leaves/needles per subterminal one-year branch             shoot.—200 to 250.         -   Shape.—Needle-like, acicular.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate, attached to leaf peg.         -   Margin.—Entire, smooth.         -   Leaf length, terminal shoot.—Basal: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm;             Medial: 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Distal.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth and covered with waxy layer.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Curvature of the needles.—On the apical needles, there is no             curvature (the needles are straight); on the terminal leaf             branch shoot, the upper shoot needles have a very slight             forward curvature and the needles on the side and lowers are             straight (no curvature); on the small, lateral shoots, the             curvature of the needles is absent to very slight.         -   Immature leaf color.—RHS 122D (Blue-Green).         -   Mature leaf color for both upper and lower surfaces.—RHS             122D (Blue-Green).         -   Mature leaf color when wax rubbed off.—RHS 189A             (Greyed-Green).         -   Petioles.—Leaves are sessile on a short peg. -   Buds:     -   -   Shape.—Conical with a pointed apex.         -   Color.—RHS 165C (Greyed-Orange).         -   Size.—2.0 cm height and 1.0 cm width at the leader branches             and 1.2 cm height, 0.5 cm width at the terminal branches and             0.5 cm height and 0.3 cm width on the small secondary             shoots.         -   Scales.—Present, smooth and papery and adhering to the bud             shape when wet or newly developed; when dry or mature, the             papery bud scales are reflexed from the tip.         -   Terminal bud burst.—Within the months of April and May. -   Cones: No male or female cones have been observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: No specific disease or pest resistance has     been observed to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL LINES

Table 1 shows a comparison of the differences between ‘INMoHoop’ and the commercial Picea pungens tree ‘Fat Albert’ (unpatented).

TABLE 1 Comparison with Commercial Line Characteristic ‘INMoHoop’ ‘Fat Albert’ Growth habit Dwarf compact tree Large open tree Size, height × width at 150 cm × 120 cm 290 cm × 190 cm 10-years-old Mature needle/leaf color RHS 122D (Blue-Green) RHS 130D (Green)

Table 2 shows a comparison of differences between ‘INMoHoop’ and the parental lines.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Parental Lines Male parent Female parent Characteristic ‘INMoHoop’ ‘Hoopsi’ ‘Montgomery’ Shape Wide conical Irregular Irregular flattened as both an conical mound as an immature immature and tree and wide conical mature tree as a mature tree Branch growth Orthotropic Plagiotropic Plagiotropic type Large open Dwarf compact tree; Growth habit Dwarf and tree; staking flattened mound when compact and pruning immature and wide- required for conical when mature tree-like habit Growth rate 20 cm to 35 cm to 10 cm to 20 cm cm/year 30 cm 45 cm Size, height × 150 cm × 230 cm × 90 cm × 105 cm width at 120 cm 135 cm 10-years-old Mature needle/ RHS 122D RHS 112C RHS 122B leaf color (Blue-Green) (Blue-Green) (Blue-Green) Leaf./needle 3.0 cm to 2.2 cm to 2.2 cm to 2.5 cm length, medial 3.5 cm 2.5 cm Leaf/needle 0.1 cm 0.2 cm 0.1 cm width 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Picea pungens tree designated ‘INMoHoop’ as illustrated and described herein. 